Thieves have an array of devices to steal credit and debit card numbers including "sniffer" software programs that capture PINs and other sensitive information.

Gene Sacco, President of DATATrue Photo/RTO Online

Police departments across the country are reporting an increase in credit and debit card fraud cases this year, with thieves using high-tech tools to steal confidential financial data from unwary customers at stores, restaurants, gas stations and mini-marts. According to Detective Jim Graham at the Thousand Oaks, CA Police Department, "The number of cases really exploded in the last month and a half."

Thieves have an array of devices to steal credit and debit card numbers including "sniffer" software programs that capture PINs and other sensitive information. Then they sell the numbers and PIN to individuals on the street for the sole purpose of committing fraud.

Checking account fraud is also growing. Armed with just a checking account number and bank routing number, criminals can still create checks at a whim, experts and law authorities say. All the perpetrators need is check printing software and a laser jet printer and the criminal is in business. In fact, the Urban Age Institute found out that at least one Internet site makes the process even easier.

But just because ways to commit identity fraud have become more prevalent, don't think methods to combat this problem haven't kept pace.

According to Gene Sacco, President of DATATrue, "Just yesterday, I personally assisted one of our DATATrue clients with what seemed to be a normal transaction that turned out to be an attempt to commit fraud by using a relative's Social Security Number and checking account. DATATrue saved our customer $1200by catching this one fraudulent transaction."

Whether or not your rent-to-own or retail location accepts checks and debit cards as payment, verifying every customer's checking account is a key indicator of your customer's ability to pay. People tend to pay their bills on time when they have a checking account that is in good standing with a positive balance. All DATATrue customers currently have the option to verify a customer's bank account separately for only $0.53 cents.

DATATrue highly recommends that all of their clients' customer checking accounts be verified at least once per quarter and at also at the time an account is opened for a new and/or inactive customer.

Sacco added, "Banks are failing. Unemployment is rising. Consumer debt is exploding. More people are borrowing, purchasing, renting or financing merchandise with no intention of paying. Many middle class American's are walking into RTO, Payday Loan companies and/or applying for on-line instant cash advances while using fraudulent information to qualify for the loan. The DATATrue product is a smart way to protect your business and lower your risk of being the victim of fraudulent activity."

For more information on how to use DATATrue and achieve maximum benefit, please call the DATATrue corporate office at 626-542-7820. Existing customers can sign up for the company's separate AOV bank verification service by emailing Dan Jobrack at djobrack@datatrue.net.